Virtually everyone who closely and objectively observes Congress agrees that Democrats have had a very productive year, instigated substantial progress on key priorities, and begun to move our nation in a new direction.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that every single member of this body – on both sides of the aisle – agrees that we must protect middle-income Americans from the alternative minimum tax, the parallel tax system enacted in 1969 to ensure that wealthy Americans pay their fair share.

Today the House is considering one of the most important human rights measures we have dealt with all year --- a bill related to the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian disaster, the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

It is unfortunate, and indeed shameful, that President Bush has once again vetoed fiscally responsible, bipartisan legislation that would provide health insurance coverage to 10 million low-income American children.

Today’s jobs report is just another indication that our economy, under President Bush, continues to muddle along, while millions of Americans are afflicted with economic insecurity and grappling with rising health care costs, gas prices and college costs and stagnating household income.

I would like to commend the efforts of Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Dingell, Senators Inouye and Stevens, and the other Members of Congress who have spent countless hours in the critical effort to aggressively increase CAFE standards without jeopardizing American jobs.

After consultations today, Democratic leaders in Congress have decided to send bipartisan legislation that would ensure that 10 million low-income American children receive the health insurance coverage that they need and deserve to the White House.